A local artist who had long kept his work out of public view earned top honors at a newly established regional competition last month. The People's Choice Award at the Western Art Show — described as the first one-day western show in the area — went to a Woodland Park-area painter whose winning piece was displayed at Tava House during America's Mountain Festival.
The award-winning work, titled "The Crossing," depicts horses running through water and is a framed 30-inch by 18-inch oil painting rendered in natural hues. The painting is on display at Reserve Our Gallery through August.
The winning artist had lived in the area for a long time but was occupied with other ventures, keeping his art largely behind the scenes. He began sharing his work publicly through a community art show in March and has since entered monthly shows at Reserve Our Gallery as well as a show at the Heritage Center in Cripple Creek. He has won numerous awards during that period and became a permanent artist at Reserve Our Gallery in May.
Two additional artists were recognized at the Western Art Show: one received the Tava Award and another received the Peak Art Award. The three winners were celebrated during a champagne toast, with 90 glasses of champagne served at the event.
The show is one of several arts events concentrated in the region this summer. The Peak Art Adventure show, running August 5 through 25 at Reserve Our Gallery, features work in three categories: Mountains, Miniatures, and En Plein Air. A total of $1,000 in prizes will be awarded, with a presentation during an Art Gala and Grand Reopening Celebration on August 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. The gallery was remodeled in mid-July and now features a modern, lighter feel, with new premier vinyl installed through a microgrant from the DDA in partnership with the Woodland Professional Building and Reserve Our Gallery.
Looking further ahead, Victor Celebrates the Arts is scheduled for August 28 through September 7, marking the 26th year of the event. All paintings in that show are executed en plein air — on site and directly from life — within a 10-mile radius of Victor City Hall, with professional and emerging artists painting scenes in and around the city and nearby historic 1890s gold mining sites. More than 20 awards are to be presented, with total cash prizes exceeding $4,000.
Details on prize distributions for the Peak Art Adventure show and final attendance figures for the Western Art Show have not yet been released.